Embossing tool

ABSTRACT

An embossing tool which has an elongated body along which is formed a tape path leading from a supply-receiving cavity at one end to the embossing die members at the opposite end. This embossing tool utilizes a tape path which leads to the periphery of the die members and between two apposed die members and then toward the center of the die members. The cut-off member is positioned along the path and adjacent the outer periphery of the die members.

[ 1 May 15, 1973 Unite 1 5' 1 1 Kraayenhot et a1.

[ EMBOSSING TOOL 3,272,301 9/1966 Craig...................... 3,277,992 10/1966 Bremer..... 3,414,102 12/1968 [75] Inventors: Hans Kraayenhof, Son, Netherlands;

Norvel1e.... 12/1970 Curt A. Poulton, St. Paul, Minn.

[73] Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn.

May 4, 1971 Appl. N0.: 140,034

Primary Examiner-Edgar S. Burr and Steldt Attorney-Kinney, Alexander, Sell,

Delahunt 22 Filed:

7] ABSTRACT An embossing tool which has an elongated body along which is formed a tape path leading from a supplyreceiving cavity at one end to the embossing die members at the opposite end. This embossing tool utilizes a tape path which leads to the periphery of the die members and between two apposed die members and then toward the center of the die members. The cutoff member is positioned along the path and adjacent the outer periphery of the die members.

521 U.S.CI.......................................197/6.7,101/18 511 Int.Cl.................. ...B41j1/24 58 Field ofSearch..........................l97/67;101/18 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,155,215 Avery................

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 EMBOSSING TOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to embossing tools and in one aspect to an improvement in the arrangement of the components of the tool to afford economic use of the tape and an improved arrangement of the several parts.

The popularity of embossable tape as a method of labelin g articles is continually increasing and the prior art is replete with various types of tools for manually embossing the tape as well as tools which are semiautomatic. Examples of the prior art to which the present invention relate include US. Pat. Nos. 3,155,215; 3,272,301 and 3,277,992. The first-mentioned patent teaches positioning of two apposed die discs with their centers positioned in a plane defining the longitudinal center of the embossing tool such that the tape path along the embossing tool extends across the center of the die discs and their between the discs and radially outward therefrom. This design acliiieved'one improvement over the earlier known embossing tools which utilized a tape path which was generally tangential to a pair of apposed circular die members in that it facilitated the immediate inspection of the embossed letter after the embossing operation. One disadvantage however of this system was the distance along the tape path between the tape driving means and the embossing station. This spacing results in the trailing end of the supply of strip material being lost or wasted since the driving member cannot engage the strip and index it to permit the proper spacing of the letters therealong.

US. Pat. No. 3,272,301 disclosed a similar arrangement of the tape path and the die discs but the elongate style of the embossing tool changed. This design shortened the distance between the tape driving means and the embossing station to approximately the radial dimension of the embossing die discs. This design improvement still causes a loss of material and any further lessening of this waste will be enjoyed by the customer.

Another feature of these tools of the prior art, not cited above is the provision of the cut-off die for the tape being positioned past the embossing station. This placement of the cut-off die has often caused the customer to cut an embossed label at or before the last letter or symbol advanced past the cutting die and spoils the label.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,277,992 discloses a tool design with the cut-off dies off the die discs and spaced from the embossing station toward the supply area to avoid the label being cut short on the trailing end. In this design the spacing from the embossing station to the tape driving means still exceeds however the diameter of the embossing die discs.

The embossing tool of the present invention retains the elongate style, permits immediate inspection of the embossed character, lessens the waste of tape and places the cut-off knives off of the embossing die discs.

The embossing tool constructed according to the present invention is generally elongate and has a tape path moving the strip by tape drive means past a cut-off die to the embossing station between apposed embossing die discs and then outward of the tool toward the center of the die members.

BRIEF SUMMARY The embossing tool according to the present invention for embossing a continuous strip of material has two rotative apposed mating die members including a plurality of apposed die sets. One die member is an annular ring and may have the shape of a hollow conical frustum and the second is a disk with the working die faces on the ends of radial fingers. Means are provided for maintaining said die members in registration and guide members define a short threading path between the drive means and the embossing station. The die members are disposed at the end of the tape path which is generally radial to said die members and directs the strip of material between the apposed die members and outward of the tool toward the centers of the die members.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The present invention will be more fully described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embossing tool constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the embossing tool of FIG. 1 with a supply of tape therein;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the embossing station taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The embossing tool 5 of the present invention comprises an elongated body section forming the handle for the tool and is formed with a cavity at one end for storing a supply 'of tape. On the opposite end of the body is disposed a pair of rotative opposed mating die members held together to maintain registration between opposite die members of each die set and rotatable to position'selected ones of said die sets at an embossing station. A lever or grip provided on the body member permits the embossing of the tape by the selected embossing die at the embossing station.

The body of the embossing tool 5 is formed of a first cast metallic frame 8 forming the main support frame for the tool The metal frame 8 has a V-shaped, exposed member 9, to afford support at, and help define, the embossing station, a rear channel portion to support a plastic frame 10 and a tongue 11 to support the die members. On the metal frame 8 is fitted the body frame 12, preferably of a molded polymeric material which defines the handle portion and to which is pivoted a cover 13 which serves to cover a cavity 14 formed in the frame 12 toward one end thereof as best illustrated in FIG. 2. In this cavity is positioned a cartridge 15 carrying a supply to tape 16 which may be guided along a generally planar path extending through the body of the tool. A grip 17 is pivotally mounted about an axis 18 onto the frame 8.

At the end of the body opposite the tape-receiving cavity 14 and supported on the tongue 11 is an assembly 19 which is removably held on the tongue 11 by suitable interfitting resilient fastening members. The assembly 19 comprises a dish-shaped support 20 having a pair of openings 21 and 22 to receive the resilient fastening members in the form of brackets 24 and 25 formed on and extending from the tongue llQThe brackets 24 and 25 together with a locating stud 26 on the tongue 11 support the assembly 19. A fixed disclike guide member 30 is secured to the support 20 by means of swaged post members 3ll which form a central hub 34 on the guide member 34) and penetrate the support 20. The guide member serves to retain in aligned position two rotative apposed mating die members 32 and 33. The die members 32 and 3.3 comprise a plurality of apposed mating die sets for forming various letters and symbols utilized to form embossed symbols on a tape for the purpose of making labels. Means are provided to retain the die members 32 and 33 in registration such that the mating die members are al ways in apposed relation at the embossing station. The die member 32 is an annular ring and as illustrated has the form of a conical frustum with the female member of each set of embossing dies carried on the inner surface of the frustum. The assembly B9 is supported on the tongue to place the axis of the die member 32 oblique to the plane of the tape path. The die member 33 is a disc-shaped member which is journaled on the hub 34 of the guide member 39 and a male die of each set of embossing dies is supported on a radially extending finger which is flexible, permitting it to be moved away from the mating die on the member 32.

The assembly 18 includes a leaf spring 35 supported on a depending post which urges the resilient fingers supporting the male die members away from the apposed die member 32 at the embossing station. The die member 33 and die member 32 are generally interlocked by means of the die sets so that they will both rotate together when the operator grasps the member 32 to select a predetermined symbol and position it at the embossing station. Guide member 30 is also provided on its lower periphery with a pair of axially extending cams 38 and 39 which have their greatest axial displacement near the embossing station. These cams serve to separate the resilient dies on the fingers of member 33 from their respective mating die on the member 32 as they are moved toward and away from the embossing station. The cams 38 and 39 separate the fingers until they reach a position at the embossing station and at the embossing station the resilient leaf spring 35 engages with the finger to retain the dies in spaced apposed relation. This allows movement of the tape between the die members of the die set at the embossing station. The upper surface of the guide 30 is provided with a radially extending channel 44) which forms a guide for the tape as it emerges from between the apposed die members 32 and 33 at the embossing station and guides the tape from the embossing station across the centers of the two apposed die members.

The frame 8 also supports severing means for the tape at a position adjacent the periphery of the die members 32 and 33 and the embossing station. As illus trated, a pair of cut-off knives 41 are supported in the frame 8 and serve to sever the length of tape 16 which has been embossed from the supply of tape and to form a tab on the end of the severed lengths. The knives 4i are disposed along the tape path just in advance of the peripheral edge of the die members.

The tape embossingoperation and the tape severing operation is afforded by relative movement of the grip 17 relative to the body of the embossing too]. An actuating bar 43 is disposed intermediate the grip l7 and the embossing station. The bar 43 is supported on a transverse bar 44 formed on the tongue ill. The actuating bar has one member which slides over the bar 44 and in so doing the bar 44 is captured on the bar 44 by flexible fingers 45 formed at one end of the actuating bar 43. At the opposite end of the actuating bar is a plunger 47 which is positioned beneath the resilient finger of the die member 33 positioned at the embossing station as the finger is biased away from the die member 32 by means of the leaf spring 35. An opening 48 formed in the support 20 allows access of the plunger 47 to a finger to drive the finger against the spring 35 toward the mating die on the die member 32 to cause embossment of the tape. The resilience of the bar 43 helps return the bar to its normal position. A second platen 49 is formed on the bar 43 and defines an anvil which cooperates with the knives 41 to cut a length of tape. When cutting is desired the die members 32 and 33 are moved to the cut position and the terminal end of one of the fingers on the die member 33 is removed beyond the radial position of the cams 38 and 39. Thus no embossing operation can be made simultaneously with the cutting operation as the plunger 47 will be spaced from the die member 32 a distance greater than the thickness of the tape and no working end on a finger will be therebetween.

The grip 17 is captured in the frame 12 by the pivot 18 and a projection 52 which contacts the frame 12 at the opposite end. A return spring 53 positioned between the frame 8 and the grip i7 maintains the grip in the released position after it has been pivoted into the frame 112 to cause an embossing or cutting operation on the tape 16. Movement of the grip 17 also actuates the incremental tape drive mechanism. The tape drive mechanism comprises a pressure roller 55 journaled in the cover 13 and a drive roller 56 journaled in the frame 10 supported on the frame 8. The drive roller 56 comprises a resilient tire 57 on a rotatable hub 58. The hub is also formed with a ratchet wheel 60 which cooperates with a spring pawl 61 secured to the grip l7. Pivotal movement of the grip will thus afford advancement of the pawl 61 relative to the ratchet wheel 60 to rotate the drive roller 56 incrementally and advance the tape. A resilient member 63 is engageable with the ratchet wheel 60 to restrict reverse rotation of the drive roller 56.

A transverse shelf 64 on the frame 10 on either side of the drive roller 56 and extending between the tape supply cavity and the embossing station defines a tape path extending lengthwise of the tool 5 and radial to the die members. The tape path directs the tape between the rollers 55 and 56, between the knives 41 and the platen 49, between the spaced apposed die set positioned at the embossing station, and radially inwardly of the die members 32 and 33 along the guide channel 40 toward the axis of said die members.

Having described the present invention by a description of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawing, it will be appreciated that various changes may be made in the illustrated device without departing.

from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. An embossing tool for embossing a continuous strip of material comprising two rotative apposed mating circular die members including a plurality of apposed die sets, a frame including means for mounting said die members for rotation about a rotational axis, means for maintaining said die sets in registration and affording the positioning of a selected set of dies at a strip embossing station,

guide members defining a path for the strip of material to said strip embossing station, actuator means for actuating a selected set of said dies which are positioned at said strip embossing station, and drive means for moving the strip along said path, said die members being disposed at an end of said path in a position such that said path is an extension of a radius of said die members, said guide members including means to guide said strip first past said drive means, then past said strip embossing station and then toward said rotational axis of said die members, and means for rendering the embossing performed at said embossing station visible between said embossing station and the rotational axis of said die members. 2. An embossing tool according to claim 1 wherein said two rotative apposed die members comprise an annular member and a circular die disc divided into radially extending fingers, one of said annular member and die disc carrying the die of a die set and the other the punch.

3. An embossing tool according to claim 2 wherein said annular member is a hollow conical frustum with an inner and an outer surface and wherein the dies of the die sets are disposed on the inner surface of said frustum.

4. An embossing tool according to claim 1 comprising tape cut-off means disposed along said path and mounted on said frame adjacent the periphery of said die members and in advance of said strip embossing station for severing an embossed portion of a strip of material from the supply.

5. An embossing tool according to claim 3 wherein said path is disposed generally in a plane and the axis of said conical frustum is disposed oblique to the plane of said path.

6. An embossing tool according to claim 2 wherein said annular member and said die disc are held between two support members, said means for rendering the embossing visible including one support member defining the hub for said annular member having means defining a tape guide from the inner periphery of said annular member toward the center of said one support 

1. An embossing tool for embossing a continuous strip of material comprising two rotative apposed mating circular die members including a plurality of apposed die sets, a frame including means for mounting said die members for rotation about a rotational axis, means for maintaining said die sets in registration and affording the positioning of a selected set of dies at a strip embossing station, guide members defining a path for the strip of material to said strip embossing station, actuator means for actuating a selected set of said dies which are positioned at said strip embossing station, and drive means for moving the strip along said path, said die members being disposed at an end of said path in a position such that said path is an extension of a radius of said die members, said guide members including means to guide said strip first past said drive means, then past said strip embossing station and then toward said rotational axis of said die members, and means for rendering the embossing performed at said embossing station visible between said embossing station and the rotational axis of said die members.
 2. An embossing tool according to claim 1 wherein said two rotative apposed die members comprise an annular member and a circular die disc divided into radially extending fingers, one of said annular member and die disc carrying the die of a die set and the other the punch.
 3. An embossing tool according to claim 2 wherein said annular member is a hollow conical frustum with an inner and an outer surface and wherein the dies of the die sets are disposed on the inner surface of said frustum.
 4. An embossing tool according to claim 1 comprising tape cut-off means disposed along said path and mounted on said frame adjacent the periphery of said die members and in advance of saiD strip embossing station for severing an embossed portion of a strip of material from the supply.
 5. An embossing tool according to claim 3 wherein said path is disposed generally in a plane and the axis of said conical frustum is disposed oblique to the plane of said path.
 6. An embossing tool according to claim 2 wherein said annular member and said die disc are held between two support members, said means for rendering the embossing visible including one support member defining the hub for said annular member having means defining a tape guide from the inner periphery of said annular member toward the center of said one support member. 